The Sekolah Rakyat Programme in Indonesia has been instrumental in tackling the issue of education equity by offering free education to students from impoverished backgrounds. This initiative not only provides educational access but also focuses on holistic character development, empowering children to actively contribute to the nation’s development while upholding moral values. Recently, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) and the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) to formalize their collaboration in expanding educational opportunities for the underprivileged through the Sekolah Rakyat programme. The partnership includes aspects such as social welfare services, beneficiary data exchange, and enhancing human resource competencies in education and social sectors.
Ministers Saifullah Yusuf and Nasaruddin Umar stressed the significance of Sekolah Rakyat in breaking the poverty cycle through free education and character development. As dropout rates increase and educational access remains limited for the less fortunate, initiatives like Sekolah Rakyat play a vital role in uplifting children from marginalized backgrounds and creating a pathway to a brighter future. The Ministry of Social Affairs has introduced two models for building People’s Schools, focusing on renovating existing assets and constructing new facilities to provide quality learning environments for students. These efforts align with the government’s vision of establishing an inclusive education system that empowers children from underprivileged families and contributes to Indonesia’s prosperity by 2045. Through programmes like Sekolah Rakyat, the government aims to tackle the root causes of poverty and ensure all children have equal opportunities to receive a quality education.